My husband, who is a Pastor and Bible teacher for over four decades, grew up in an era where men were controlling and mean.
I have grown up in a generation where women, because men did not learn “Husbands LOVE your wives As Christ Loved the Church and GAVE HIMSELF for it.” have decided they were no longer going to permit this unkind, unloving behavior in their lives, nor in the lives of their family, due to a religion that enables men to be domineering and harsh in their relationships.
In the following verses we’re going to see the True character of JESUS:
Although He is the Head of the Church; (the Body of Christ, Ephesians 1:22, Colossians 1:18) taught that even though He is Christ, the Son of God, He did Not come to be served, BUT to Serve, and in order to make Himself clear, He lived and taught: The Greatest among you, (including husbands) are to Serve:
LUKE 22:24-27, Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them. 25 Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’ 26 But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. 27 Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! FOR I AM AMONG YOUVAS ONE WHO SERVES.
MATTHEW 20:28, just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
All of the Apostle Paul’s teaching on the subject of serving or submission must agree with what Jesus taught. Namely that those in authority are to serve, and not dominate, (control; have power over) those they serve.
Jesus had control over How he served, he did not seek to control those he served.
Which is why Paul says in Ephesians 5:1,2 1Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children, 2and walk in love, JUST AS CHRIST LOVED US AND GAVE HIMSELF UP FOR US (walk in Love, including husbands and wives) as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.
The “wives submit,” Must be in context with the teachings of Jesus: the Greatest Serve, not to be served, Paul understood this which is why He also said in Ephesians 5:,21, Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
And we also must pay attention to the verse proceeding the wives submit verse, where it says, Husbands love your wives AS Christ loved the church and GAVE Himself for it.
JESUS IS THE GREATEST, AND SERVED: Since husbands are not greater than their Master, who is Jesus Himself, they too are instructed to Serve, John 13:16 says, “Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.” this includes serving or laying down their lives for their Wives, Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, Love your wives, just as Christ LOVED the church and GAVE Himself for it.
One of the reasons why I was inspired to share on this topic was due to a recent message I had heard, and decided to teach it in more detail.
The subject of husbands and wives that Paul addresses, should always be taught in context with Jesus word’s as in the verses stated above, to help husbands and wives learn the true meaning of Love, submission and our instruction to Serve one another, especially those who are newly married, so as to understand what it means for husbands to “LOVE YOUR WIVES AS CHRIST LOVED THE CHURCH AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR IT. In doing so, this can alleviate much confusion along with the error of man’s doctrine compared to what Jesus taught, which can help to put an end to religious thinking and teaching.
The wives “submit,” concept proves there is absolutely NO sound biblical understanding of LOVE, and what Jesus teaches—the Greatest among you Serve.
This is how Jesus Lived, and teaches the Body of Christ to follow his instruction and example.
Bottom line: Love as He loved us and Serve as He served us, How? By giving His life for us.
Husbands LOVE your Wives and do Not be Harsh with them. Colossians 3:19
LOVE AND SERVE ONE ANOTHER
To learn more, read the chapter “Freewill” in my book: Love Awakens, at LoveAwakens.org
